Sep 8, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; Taylor Fritz (USA) (not pictured) and Jannik Sinner (ITA) play in the men’s singles final of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

tennis

‘Step Up Your Game a Little Bit’ – Emma Navarro Calls Out Jannik Sinner Ahead of US Open 2025

Sinner & Navarro will lead the charge among a star-studded lineup at Flushing Meadows.

World No. 11 Emma Navarro has dished out a hilarious precautionary message to reigning Wimbledon champion and soon-to-be mixed doubles partner Jannik Sinner, ahead of the upcoming 2025 US Open. The World No. 1 defeated Carlos Alcaraz in an epic four-setter to win his maiden crown at SW19. Meanwhile, Navarro lost in the Round of 16 to Mirra Andreeva.

Navarro and Sinner will be joining a packed house at the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship this year. Having been out of action for three months, Sinner has roared back like he never left – the four-time Grand Slam champion reached finals in Rome and Paris, before becoming the new king of All England Club. On the other hand, Navarro claimed the Merida Open Akron trophy in March, without dropping a set.

Emma Navarro Hands Out Wake Up Call to Jannik Sinner

The unexpected Sinner-Navarro duo was officially entered into the draw on Thursday. Following the confirmation, Navarro dropped a rib-tickling message for her partner. Needless to say, he needs to get to work at the earliest. “Hey Jannik, it’s Emma here,” began the 24-year-old American. “Just want to say – huge congrats on the Wimbledon title. I watched a lot of your matches.”

“I watched the final, and you look like you’re playing a lot of good tennis. But, I’m just getting a little bit worried because I didn’t see that much net play. You did hit a tweener between your legs at one point, which was kind of cool or whatever, but you missed the overhead. I don’t even know if that really counts. I’m going to need you to just put in a good bit of work at the net on the doubles court over the next month or so.”

Emma Navarro to Sinner ahead of playing U.S. Open mixed doubles with him:

"Hey Jannik. I'm getting a bit worried because I didn't see that much net play. You did hit a Tweener at one point, which was pretty cool, but you missed the overhead" 😭😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/exhpMXC2dk
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 17, 2025

“Hopefully, you can improve that part of your game, because I’m out here working hard at doubles pretty much every day. So I need you to step up your game a little bit and sort of match my level there. Let’s get to work buddy!”

US Open Introduces Revamped Mixed Doubles Tournament

Starting from the 2025 edition of the tournament, the US Open will host a new mixed doubles event. In June, the USTA announced that they will be ‘reimagining’ the format of the mixed doubles draw. The tournament will be held across two days prior to the main event – during the US Open Fan Week. As a result, several singles superstars have signed up for the mixed doubles competition, resulting in traditional doubles specialists missing out.

A STAR-STUDDED 🤩 lineup of teams have officially entered the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship!

More info: https://t.co/bIMJGbf3qI pic.twitter.com/Hw1yA87pgj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 17, 2025

This decision of the USTA has been met with contrasting reactions. While the purists of the game are heavily criticising the call for ditching doubles specialists and converting the event into an exhibition tournament of sorts, others are in favour of it. “I think it’s going to be really exciting,” said 2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, who is set to partner former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Other blockbuster pairings include Carlos Alcaraz-Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic-Olga Danilovic, Casper Ruud-Iga Swiatek, Stefanos Tsitsipas-Paula Badosa and Nick Kyrgios-Naomi Osaka.

(Image Credits: Robert Deutsch, Imagn Images)

Aryna Sabalenka

ATP

Carlos Alcaraz

Emma Navarro

Emma Raducanu

Jannik Sinner

Nick Kyrgios

Novak Djokovic

Tennis

US Open

WTA

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.